Lance Whitney5 eBay Alternatives for Buyers and SellersLooking to buy or sell a used product or hard-to-find item? EBay isn't the only game in town. These five sites can probably help you find what you need.

You may have already bought or sold stuff on eBay. And perhaps that experience went smoothly. But it doesn't hurt to check out alternative websites. An array of other shopping sites can help you buy or sell items, especially items that are rare, collectible, out of stock elsewhere, or otherwise difficult to find. Here's where to start.

Amazon

If you've bought items from Amazon, then you've likely already bumped into the retail giant's third-party seller options. The search results for many items include a section for "More Buying Choices," with links to used and new offers from third parties who sell on Amazon.

Third-Party Sellers

The listing for such an item displays links for new, used, and often collectible versions of the item that Amazon itself may not offer.

Click on one of the links to view the third-party sellers who offer the item. You'll see the price, condition, delivery time, seller name, and seller rating. Be sure to compare the total cost for each listing. Third-party sellers set their own prices, and they aren't always competitive. Buying an item from a third party works the same as buying it directly from Amazon. If you're an Amazon Prime member, though, you won't score the free Prime shipping from a third party.

Sell on Amazon

Want to try selling on Amazon? The initial setup process is more complicated and cumbersome than on a site like eBay. You'll also run into limitations and restrictions trying to sell certain items. But you may still want to give it a shot.

Amazon offers two selling plans. If you're an individual or small business who plans to sell fewer than 40 items per month, the Individual plan is free. You pay 99 cents for each item sold plus selling fees that vary by category.

If you run a large retail business, the Professional selling plan costs $39.99 per month plus per-item selling fees. An Amazon FAQ serves up all the details on becoming a seller. To set up your account, browse to the Amazon Services page for selling online. Click on the button to Sell as a Professional if you want to go the Pro route. Click on the button to Sell as an Individual if you prefer that plan. You can always start with an Individual plan to test the waters.

Sign in with your Amazon account or create a new account if you want to keep your Amazon buying and selling separate. Follow the screens to set up your account by creating a name, entering your address and contact info, and specifying your billing and deposit method. You also need to provide your Tax ID and other information. After you've completed the setup process, you're taken to your seller's page where you can start putting up items for sale.

iOffer

iOffer is a site for buying and selling used and collectible items. You won't find the depth and variety of offerings available on eBay. But iOffer is worth a look if you can't dig up the item elsewhere.

First, set up your account. As a buyer, you can then browse the different categories or search for specific items. If you find what you want, you can buy the item straight away or make an offer to the seller if that option is available. If you purchase the item, check out and select your payment method.

Sell on iOffer

To sell on iOffer, first set up a PayPal account if you don't already have one. At the iOffer website, click on the Sell link at the top of the homepage. Select a category for your item. Add details for the item, including title, photos, description, availability, estimated shipping time, and price. Shipping cost is automatically included so price your item accordingly. If someone buys the item, confirm that you received payment and ship it.

eBid

EBid is another site for buying and selling, either auction style or "Buy Now." For buyers, first set up your account. Browse the various product categories or search for a specific item. You can search across all categories or just one.

Click on an item that interests you. Check out the details on the item and the seller. Looks good? If it's offered as a "Buy Now" listing, click on the Buy Now button. With some listings you can also make an offer if you don't want to shell out the asking price. If the item you want is up for auction, enter your bid in the appropriate field and click on Place Bid. If you win the item, pay for it via PayPal, and you're set.

Sell on eBid

For sellers, eBid offers a few options. You can become a seller for free and list for free but pay eBid 3 percent of the price when you sell an item. Alternatively, you can opt for a Seller+ account with a variety of benefits, including no selling fee. You can take Seller+ for a spin for anywhere from seven days for a one-time fee of $1.99 to lifetime for $49.99.

Fill out the seller's form and provide your credit card information. You can then list an item for sale. Choose the category. Fill out the listing for the item. Preview the listing and then push it live. Wait for those bids and offers to come in.

Etsy

Etsy specializes in certain product categories, including Jewelry & Accessories, Clothing & Shoes, Home & Living, Wedding & Party, Toys & Entertainment, Art & Collectibles, and Craft Supplies & Tools. You can shop by category or search for particular items. From the search results, you can view the listings by shipping options, location, price, and ordering options. Click on an item that interests you. Buy it now or add it to your shopping cart. Pay for the item, and you're done.

Sell on Etsy

To sell on Etsy, click on the Your Shop button at the top of the homepage. Fill out the required information to open your Etsy store. Add as many listings as you want to get started. Post your listings and wait for the buyers to come.

Bonanza

As befits its name, Bonanza offers a variety of items. As a buyer, create your account and then start shopping. You can check out the different categories or search for specific products. Click on an item you like. Read the details. Add to your cart. Check out, and the item is yours.

Sell on Bonanza

To become a Bonanza seller, click on the Sell on Bonanza button at the top. You can opt to start a listing from scratch or import items from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and other sites. At your Bonanza booth, add a new item if you chose not to import from other sites. Fill out the item listing and then add it to your booth. You can continue adding more items. At some point, you need to set up and open your booth for business. Click on the button to Open your Booth. Enter the necessary information for your booth. Your booth goes live with whatever items you listed.

About the Author

Surviving a long and varied career in publishing, advertising, and IT, Lance Whitney now wears a few different technology hats. By day, he's a journalist, software trainer, and sometime Web developer. By night, he's asleep. These days, he writes news stories, columns, and reviews for CNET and other technology sites and publications. He's written tw... See Full Bio

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